addressed sonnets to her while in prison, and also a kind of lyric romance, in the form of an epistle.—F. M. W.
FALCK, Anton Reinhard, Baron, a Dutch statesman, was born at Utrecht in 1776, and died in 1843. A short time after he had completed his education he was appointed secretary to the Spanish embassy. On his return home he found his country about to be handed over by Napoleon to one of his brothers. Falck was unwilling to be a party to the usurpation by rendering direct service to the new government, but accepted the post of secretary-general for Indian affairs; a rich sinecure that allowed him leisure to cultivate his favourite literary pursuits. After the departure of the French forces in 1813, Falck became secretary to the provisional government, and when the kingdom of the Low Countries was organized, he was appointed secretary of state. In 1818 the king combined in his person the ministry of the colonies, of public instruction, and of national industry. He applied himself to the promotion of education, but the increasing difficulties of his position forced him to resign He was ambassador to Brussels from 1840 till his death.—R. M., A.
FALCK, Jeremias, line-engraver, was born at Dantzig in 1629, and died in 1709. He learned engraving in Paris under Chaveau, and practised his art in Holland, and for a while in Denmark and Sweden. Some of his best historical plates were engraved for the cabinet of Reynst. Among them are "St. John Preaching in the Wilderness," after A. Bloemart; "Concert of Music," after Guercino; and "The Cyclops," after Caravaggio. Some of his best portraits are those of Queen Christina of Sweden, Prince Charles Gustavus, the Prince Palatine, Count Oxenstierna, Tycho Brahe, and other northern notabilities, chiefly from the originals of D. Beck. A fuller list of his plates will be found in Nagler's Künstler Lexicon.—J. T—e.
FALCK, Niels Nik., a Danish statsraad and lawyer, born 25th November, 1784, at Emmerlöv in the county of Tönder. He was tutor in the family of Count Moltke at Rütschau; after which he studied law, and in 1809 passed his juridical examination. He was appointed professor of Roman and German law in the new university of Christiana; but owing to the separation of Norway from Denmark in 1814, he never occupied the post, and was appointed instead ordinary professor of jurisprudence at Kiel. He took an active part in politics, especially in the Schleswig-Holstein question. He died 5th May, 1850. As a jurist he ranks high. His most important works are—"Juristische Encyklopädie;" and "Hand-buchdes Schleswig-Holsteinischer Privatrechts," a clear statement of the rights both of Schleswig and Holstein, which he left incomplete.—M. H.
FALCKENSTEIN, J. H. See Falkenstein.
FALCONBRIDGE, Mary, Countess of, third daughter of Oliver Cromwell, from whom she inherited the energy of character which ennobled her personal attractions, was born in 1636. In 1657 she married Thomas, Viscount Falconbridge, who commanded a regiment under the Protector, and became one of the counsellors of his son Richard. When the power of the new protector waned before the discontent of the old Cromwellian officers, she retired with her husband to his estates in Cambridgeshire; where they were joined by her brother Henry, and became decided, though secret favourers of the Restoration. She died in 1712.—W. B.
FALCONE, Angelo, a celebrated battle painter, was born at Naples in 1600, and became the pupil of Spagnoletto. He and his scholars, of whom Salvator Rosa was one, took part in Masaniello's insurrection against the Spaniards, and formed themselves into a company known as the compagnia della morte. After the death of their leader, Falcone and Salvator fled to Rome; and Falcone afterwards visited Paris, where he obtained the protection of Colbert, who procured him his pardon, and enabled him to return to Naples. Falcone painted the portrait of Masaniello. He died at Naples in 1665. There are a few prints by him, and some frescos; but he was chiefly distinguished as a battle painter. His fame was so great in this respect in his own country, that he was named the Oracle of battles—Oracolo delle battaglie. The Louvre possesses one of his battle-pieces. His works are distinguished for their vigour and colour, and are sometimes confounded with those of his great scholar, Salvator Rosa.—R. N. W.
FALCONE, Benedetto di, a Jewish chronicler, was born at Benevento in the twelfth century. His writings are very graphic, although his latinity is very inferior even for the times in which he lived. The annals of Benevento from 1102 to 1140 which he wrote, have been published, together with those of three other chroniclers, under the title of "Antiqui Chronologi quatuor;" and Muratori included them in his Rerum Italicarum scriptores. His death has not been recorded.—A. C. M.
FALCONER, Hugh, M.D., a distinguished naturalist. He was educated for the medical profession at the university of Edinburgh, where he took the degree of M.D. He went out as assistant-surgeon in the service of the East India Company, and whilst in India became distinguished for his researches in geology and botany. His geological researches were made in company with Sir Thomas Proby Cautley; and the papers containing the results of their discoveries have been written conjointly. These researches are principally confined to the discovery of an immense number of fossil remains in the Sivalik hills of the Sub-Himalayan mountains. Separate papers on the Sivatherium Hippopotamus, Camel Tiger, Anoplotherium, and Colossochelys (a gigantic tortoise) were published in the proceedings of the geological and other societies. A resumé of these researches, with much additional matter, was published in the Fauna Antiqua Sivalensis, or fossil zoology of the Sivalik hills. In 1845 Dr. Falconer was appointed superintendent of the East India Company's botanical gardens at Calcutta. In this position he remained for a few years, and then returned to England to cultivate the science of palæontology, which he much enriched by his contributions. He died January 31, 1865.—E. L.
FALCONER, Thomas, was born in 1736 at Chester, his father being recorder of the city. His passion for literary studies was the ruling principle of his life; and the protracted sickness under which he laboured, though it allowed him scarcely a moment's respite from pain, could not conquer his devotion to his favourite pursuits. Hour after hour was spent in reading, when it was only in a kneeling position that he obtained some mitigation of his bodily sufferings. He published, in 1786, "Devotions for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper," to which a practical digest of the book of Psalms was appended. The popularity of this work, and its extensive circulation, have caused it to be frequently reprinted. It was followed, at an interval of ten years, by "Chronological Tables from the time of Solomon to that of Alexander." He wrote, also, an essay on "Pliny's account of the temple of Diana at Ephesus," which was inserted in the Archæologia. But the work on which he expended his greatest attention was an edition of Strabo. It was still unfinished at his death in 1796, but was published eleven years afterwards by his nephew.—W. B.
FALCONER, William, a distinguished English physician. He was born in 1744, and was the son of William Falconer, recorder of Chester. He practised as a physician at Bath, and was well known throughout the world for his medical writings. One of his most celebrated works was entitled "Remarks on the Influence of Climate, Situation, Nature of Country, Population, Food, &c., on the disposition and temper, manners, laws and customs, government, and religion of mankind." This was published in 1782. In 1788 he obtained the Fothergillian medal of the Medical Society of London for his dissertation on the influence of the passions upon the disorders of the body. He also wrote a "Practical Dissertation on the Medicinal Effects of the Bath Waters." He was remarkable for his sound judgment and clear and comprehensive views, and was held in high esteem, not only in the city in which he lived, but wherever his writings were known. He died in 1824.—His only son, the Rev. Thomas Falconer, after having taken holy orders, took a medical degree in 1823, and practised medicine in Bath. He died in 1839.—The family reputation is sustained by his son, Dr. R. Wilbraham Falconer, who is in practice as a physician at Bath, and well known for his intelligence and skill.—E. L.
FALCONER, William, a British poet, was born in the Netherbow, Edinburgh, in the year 1730. The lowliness and obscurity of his origin, and the occupation in which his life was spent, have conspired to render the memorials of him but scanty for the biographer. The son of a poor barber who Had several other children to maintain, two of whom were deaf and dumb, William, left early an orphan, had little of regular education. He stated himself in after life, that his education had been confined merely to English reading, writing, and a little arithmetic. The neighbouring port of Leith was often visited by him, and chance, or necessity, or it may be a natural taste, directed him to a sea-life. There is no reason to suppose that he had any strong indisposition to seafaring, as has been alleged, except the lines
